Magic coach Stan Van Gundy trying to assemble Magic puzzle

Changes bring about coach's toughest challenge

Orlando head coach Stan Van Gundy has his work cut out for him… (Stephen M. Dowell, Orlando…)

February 26, 2011|By Brian Schmitz, Magic Insider

We'll see if "The King's Speech" --- Dwight Howard's tongue-lashing of teammates after the Sacramento loss --- keeps inspiring the Magic as they face the Charlotte Bobcats tonight.

The Magic seemed to take Howard's address to heart in drubbing league darling Oklahoma City on Friday night.

The message was approved by coach Stan Van Gundy, especially since he and Howard were on the same page.

Always helps when the franchise player is on board, certainly, but this is clearly the biggest challenge of Stan's stay in Orlando.

His first year was a 52-win honeymoon. The past two 59-win seasons gathered the momentum needed for the Magic to make a run at a title.

And this season? The Magic have lost 22 games after losing just 23 all last season. Since being ousted by the Celtics in last May's East Finals, Van Gundy has had to adjust --- and then adjust some more.

Unlike the past three seasons of runaway regular-season success, dramatic changes have forced Van Gundy to use this regular season as a proving ground for the postseason.

There is a great unknown about this particular Magic team. Every now and then, they resemble a contender.

Van Gundy feels the heat as most coaches do. After saying his slumping shooters get paid handsomely to make shots, he added, "Call that pressure or whatever. That's like saying there's pressure on me to win games. Well, yeah, that's what they pay me for."

The Magic started the season hot before fading. GM Otis Smith felt the club was marking time and made two trades. Van Gundy basically was handed a new team in mid-December.

Flexibility hasn't always been Stan's strong suit. He had to be nudged into playing young PFs Brandon Bass and Ryan Anderson, whom he didn't feel were ready. But they've developed this season in Rashard Lewis' absence.

Weeks after saying he wanted to hold firm to an eight-man rotation, Stan used 10 men before the half against Okie City. He can always depend on Howard, but there's no nightly consistency on defense or offense yet. The playoffs are 23 games away.

Everyone's watching Van Gundy to see where this all leads.

Might be time for Clark

Van Gundy met with Clark to tell him that he believes the 6-foot-10 forward can become a defensive force in time. The Magic don't need another big man admiring his jump-shot.

Clark told me he was baffled why he was on the bench during his time with the Phoenix Suns. The Suns have never been a defensive juggernaut.

"I couldn't get an answer," he said. "I thought I was one of the best defenders on the team."

Asked if he would have been given this opportunity with the Suns, Clark said, "Honestly, no."

Magic to target D-Will?

Don't be surprised if the Magic target new New Jersey PG Deron Williams to hopefully team with Howard.

Williams was acquired last week by the Nets from the Utah Jazz. But he still has to sign an extension --- and that is a 50-50 proposition at best.

I don't know how the Magic can pull it off, given their boatload of guaranteed contracts. They would have to land Williams or Chris Paul in a sign-and-trade --- unless either superstar simply goes the Carmelo Anthony route and announces Orlando is his preferred destination.

This 'n' That

Funny scene this week at Amway Center: Magic President Alex Martins, whose tireless work helped deliver the new building, wasn't allowed inside — at least temporarily. He had left his credential at home… After dealing Kendrick Perkins, the Celtics are trusting Shaquille O'Neal to start at center. Shaq vs. Dwight in a possible playoff match-up of Superman and Super Old Man. Wouldn't this be a dream scenario for Magic fans --- Dwight sending Shaq on vacation? Shaq now vacations at Club Medicare....Did you see the Pistons had a players' mutiny against coach John Kuester, former Magic assistant? Some boycotted Friday's shootaround, including Tracy McGrady. The Pistons haven't showed up all season, anyway. Of course, the irony here is that if Kuester is fired, assistant Brian Hill could take over. Hill could then come full circle, having lost his job in his first go-round in Orlando after a player coup. . .Incredible stat: Gilbert Arenas has missed 38 of his last 41 shots from 3-point range, including his last 18 in a row. He's colder than Ted Williams.

bschmitz@tribune.com. Brian Schmitz's Magic Insider and his blog at OrlandoSentinel.com/Magic blog. Subscribe to our Magic newsletter at OrlandoSentinel.com/join us. And listen to Brian every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. on ESPN 1080.